Pacific North Death Debut Show (2024)
FREE SHOW - VIDEO INSIDE
Match 1 – Barbed Wire Cage – Hardcore vs. Eric Dillinger
Match 2 – Portland Street Fight - Rob Shit vs. Gregor Petrov
Match 3 – Devil's Playground Tag Team – Most Violent (Drexl & Funny Bone) vs. Abigail Warren & Big Ugly
Match 4 – Sonico vs. Tara Zep
Match 5 – real medical doctor Dr. Redacted vs. Reed Bentley
Match 6 – Alpha Deathmatch – Shane Mercer vs. Jimmy Lloyd
Final Thoughts
This show is available on YouTube on the Pacific North Death channel, so instead of screenshots, here’s the video:
Match 1 – Barbed Wire Cage – Hardcore vs. Eric Dillinger
Is the Deathmatch Fashion Police in the house? Naturally. And it is pleased by the opening contest. While 'Hardcore' may quite possibly be the most awkward ring name a hardcore wrestler could pick, he doesn't slack in the outfit department with a credible hardcore punk look. Lots of black though, and no competition for Dillinger in blue jeans and white wifebeater, and – this pleases my inner nitpicker – white belt to white boots.
I've seen Hardcore mostly in 'no ring deathmatches' aka barely glorified bar fights, which are typically not great, so I'm biased toward Dillinger when it comes to wrestling. He does provide the flashier elements, but Hardcore keeps up well enough. Lighttubes, barbed wire chair, and gussets see use – and weirdly for a cage match, interference from Hardcore's... manager? Will Caroll who gets a taste of the gusset plate as well. Dillinger takes the win with a frog splash.
Match 2 – Portland Street Fight - Rob Shit vs. Gregor Petrov
Rob Shit appears and obtains a microphone. I'm not listening, I'm busy judging. Proper trunks and boots, leather vest, sunglasses; yep, this man looks authentically like a douchebag. He's chased out of the ring by apparent hometown hero Petrov with a chair who also wears proper wrestling attire; both in black/red. It's not a deathmatch, but I'm judging this show under deathmatch rules, which means Rob Shit wins due to relatively irrelevant exposure; trunks over shorts.
It's a story as old as deathmatch wrestling: Shit wants nothing to do with the weapons and insists on a 'proper match' – which he is capable of delivering, so that's good. Petrov gives the fans what they want by whipping out a lighttube Tokyo Tower, but ends up going through it himself and Shit takes the win.
Match 3 – Devil's Playground Tag Team – Most Violent (Drexl & Funny Bone) vs. Abigail Warren & Big Ugly
There are few people as accessorized and gimmicky as Drexl in the deathmatch scene. The same can be said about his on/off tag team partner and frenemy Funny Bone. Tough team to beat. Their only true weakness is the high amount of black. Their opponents wear black as well. Decent sports wear ratio, about even on exposed skin, but to make a long story short, Most Violence rule supreme on the outfit front.
No weapons are visible, other than Drexl's bag which I expect to contain the tools he used in previous Devil's Playground matches: staple guns, bone-skewers and quills, and something for paper cuts. It doesn't take long until the staple guns emerge from the bag. Paper cuts soon follow, and Drexl increases the value of his merch by signing and stapling it to the opponents. Instead of skewers, two bags of thumbtacks find their way into the ring, followed by salt and lemon juice. Also a mouse trap board, and soda can and barbed wire doors. As gimmicky as much of it is, there's also a good amount of actual wrestling in this match. Drexl has always flown a bit under the radar, being stuck on the west coast when CZW and IWA-MS made deathmatch waves in the east - and thereby depriving me of a whole lot of dream matches. Which is a shame because this guy can wrestle, has a set of fairly unique trademark weapons and spots, and – impressively – hasn't slowed down one bit at his age.
Most Violent score the victory after a double stomp through the barbed wire door against Big Ugly, followed by a show of respect between the teams.
Match 4 – Sonico vs. Tara Zep
The Lucha Ghoul Sonico wears some kind of flag over his head which makes it difficult to judge his outfit. I do see proper black wrestling gear, and once the flag comes off, I'm putting this ahead of Drexl and Funny Bone – mask and facepaint, as well as more exposed skin make this the preliminary Best Dressed trophy. Zep puts up a real fight with facepaint, lighter colors including a white shirt, and heavy accessorization. If it wasn't for the long pants, she'd kick Sonico right off his podium. Originally, Sawyer Wreck was supposed to face Tara Zep, but had to cancel due to illness. I don't mind the switch at all; Sonico is another west coast staple I'm always glad to see in action.
I missed the stipulation, but we have a barbed wire fence, lighttubes, chairs, and Zep brought a gusset plate as well. Tables and a ladder also get involved, but the match lives from fast-paced wrestling action more than just a ton of weapons. We're in MOTN contender territory here. Sonico wins after both got a taste of an extremely sturdy table that just wouldn't break.
Sonico, who was originally meant to face Jimmy Lloyd, says the challenge still stands. I choose to believe he challenged Aeroboy instead. Maybe believing hard enough will make it true.
Commentary discredits Dr. Redacted and claims he is not really a medical doctor. Dirty lies. I choose to believe.
Match 5 – real medical doctor Dr. Redacted vs. Reed Bentley
Redacted's fashion showing is strong as usual – he may be the one person I accept sneakers from due to a good theme and a complete lack of black. Bentley, wearing a black singlet under long black pants and a black/white flannel, beats him in sports wear, but the color advantage of Redacted is simply too strong. Still, I want to compliment Reed Bentley for consistently matching belt and boots. It's a small thing, but as others have proven, attention to detail can't be taken for granted.
Again, I missed the stipulation, but there are loose tubes and bundles, so probably that. Commentary reminds us of that one time we all accidentally stepped on a lighttube barefoot while the brawl kicks off. As much as I rack my brain, I have trouble remembering that. This line really works a whole lot better in lego/toy box deathmatches.
The action moves outside the ring early on and stays there for most of the match. Unfortunately, the camera doesn't stay close, so some of it can only be observed from a distance through the backs of the crowd.
The chaos features an attack with a pizza and several fans used as weapons by Bentley, Redacted briefly takes over commentary, and the damn table still won't break. When they finally find their way back to the ring, a pane of glass has mysteriously appeared. Bentley also finds two bats, one with carpet strips and one with gusset plates. After Redacted, in his trashcan, goes through the glass, the match surprisingly turns into a mat wrestling duel that ends with Redacted winning via submission.
Bentley gets a microphone and I do listen because he can talk. He calls Redacted a fake doctor. I'm appalled. When will people stop spreading these vile lies? Bentley challenges Redacted to a re-match. This is fine.
Match 6 – Alpha Deathmatch – Shane Mercer vs. Jimmy Lloyd
Mercer is in his deathmatch attire which avoids black, but reduces his usual wrestling gear ratio. This could go either way. Lloyd wears all black, which makes this an easy call in favor of Mercer.
This match went through a lot of changes. Initially, the card had John Wayne Murdoch vs. Nick Gage in the Alpha stipulation. Then it became Shane Mercer vs. John Wayne Murdoch vs. Nick Gage, then Shane Mercer vs. John Wayne Murdoch, and now it is apparently Mercer vs. Lloyd. I won't beat around the bush: The ginger vs. ginger version would have been my preference by miles, and Lloyd was nowhere near my wishlist. Oh well, Mercer has made even worse ragdolls look good, so this isn't entirely hopeless.
The stipulation involves lighttubes, possibly a scaffold, chairs, panes of glass, and the unbreakable table. Not entirely unexpected, Mercer looks a whole lot better and does me the favor of cutting off a stupid weedwhacker spot to focus on weapons that go crash and boom. If anyone can conquer the stubborn table, it's him. He does, by going through it from the scaffold, then Lloyd just can't resist the dumb weedwhacker and actually wins.
I'll put it this way: if this had been the ginger vs. ginger it was supposed to be at some point, I'd be a lot more excited.
Lloyd obtains a microphone and talks for a long time, but I only pay attention again when Sonico shows up. In his reality, he challenges Lloyd again. In my admittedly fairly different reality, he challenges Mercer and I'm pretty hyped for that!
FINAL THOUGHTS
All things considered, this was a strong debut show that apparently had to deal with quite a few card changes. Other than the rotating door to the main event, Most Violent were supposed to face The Kirks, Sonico was supposed to face Lloyd, and Tara Zep was announced to face Sawyer Wreck. The swap of the latter two was certainly a blessing in disguise because Sonico vs. Tara Zep remains my MOTN, with the Devil's Playground match as runner up. I don't know how the tag match in its original line-up would have turned out, but the replacement was certainly not a misstep. The main event, well, I think my thoughts on that are pretty clear. Mercer yay, Lloyd (and power tools of any kind) nay. That is and will always be my verdict.
I'll definitely keep an eye on Pacific North Death, especially for the Sonico vs. Aeroboy dream match that has taken shape in my mind. Tara Zep vs. Aeroboy wouldn't be the worst idea either. Just sayin'.